Explicit Dynamic Analysis Engineer – Aircraft Structures

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced Structural Analysis Engineer with hands-on expertise in explicit dynamic finite element analysis and bird-strike simulation using Altair Radioss. The role involves performing structural integrity assessments of aircraft primary and secondary structures, with particular emphasis on CFRP composite airframe structures and polycarbonate transparencies/windshields.

The engineer will be responsible for developing and executing high-fidelity nonlinear simulations, assessing structural response under bird-impact loading, interpreting failure mechanisms, and providing engineering recommendations to demonstrate structural integrity and compliance with applicable aerospace requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform explicit dynamic bird-strike analysis using Altair Radioss for aircraft structural components and assemblies.
• Conduct structural integrity assessments of primary and secondary aircraft structures subjected to bird impact and other high-rate dynamic loading.
• Develop and execute detailed nonlinear finite element models including:
  • CFRP composite structures
  • Metallic airframe structures
  • Polycarbonate transparencies and windshields
  • Hybrid composite/metallic assemblies
  • Fasteners, joints and relevant interfaces
• Define appropriate material models, failure criteria, contact definitions, boundary conditions and impact scenarios for bird-strike simulations.
• Model bird impact using suitable bird material/constitutive representations, including appropriate SPH or equivalent approaches where applicable.
• Perform composite damage and failure assessment, including relevant intralaminar and interlaminar failure mechanisms.
• Evaluate structural response including:
  • Global deformation
  • Local damage and penetration
  • Material failure
  • Delamination
  • Cracking/fracture
  • Energy absorption
  • Residual structural integrity
• Assess polycarbonate transparency/windshield response, including deformation, cracking, penetration and containment behaviour under impact.
• Perform model setup, mesh sensitivity studies, correlation and verification activities to establish confidence in simulation results.
• Post-process and interpret large volumes of explicit dynamic simulation data and identify critical failure modes.
• Correlate simulation results with test data and/or physical bird-strike test results where available.
• Prepare detailed engineering reports documenting assumptions, methodology, model validation, results, failure mechanisms and conclusions.
• Support design substantiation and certification activities through technically robust analysis and engineering justification.
• Work closely with structural design, materials & processes, testing and certification teams to develop practical solutions to bird-strike-related structural challenges.
• Provide technical recommendations for design modifications, material selection, reinforcement and structural optimization.
• Contribute to development and improvement of bird-strike analysis methodologies, modelling standards and best practices.

Required Technical Skills

• Strong hands-on experience in explicit nonlinear dynamic FEA.
• Mandatory experience with Altair Radioss for impact/dynamic analysis.
• Good understanding of:
  • Explicit time integration and numerical stability
  • Nonlinear material behaviour
  • Large deformation and high strain-rate effects
  • Contact and impact mechanics
  • Energy balance and numerical quality checks
  • Failure and damage modelling
• Experience in aerospace structural analysis, particularly aircraft primary and/or secondary structures.
• Strong understanding of CFRP composite mechanics and failure behaviour.
• Experience in modelling composite damage/failure and delamination is highly desirable.
• Experience with polycarbonate transparencies, aircraft windows or windshields and impact behaviour is highly desirable.
• Ability to interpret and troubleshoot explicit dynamic simulation issues such as:
  • Negative/unstable energy behaviour
  • Excessive element distortion
  • Hourglass energy
  • Contact instability
  • Mass scaling
  • Time-step limitations
  • Nonphysical numerical effects
• Familiarity with pre- and post-processing tools such as HyperMesh/HyperView is preferred.
• Knowledge of other FEA tools such as Nastran, Abaqus or LS-DYNA is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of aerospace structural substantiation and engineering documentation.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of relevant industry experience in structural FEA / explicit dynamics.
• Candidates with 3–8 years of experience in aerospace impact analysis, bird-strike analysis or related explicit dynamic applications are preferred.
• Direct experience with aircraft structures, composite structures or aircraft transparencies will be strongly preferred.

Education

• B.Tech / M.Tech in Mechanical, Aerospace, Aeronautical or related Engineering discipline.

Desired Additional Experience

• Bird-strike certification and regulatory requirements, particularly FAA/EASA bird-impact requirements, is highly desirable.
• Experience with 14 CFR / CS-25 bird-strike requirements and associated certification evidence.
• Familiarity with aerospace test standards and correlation of simulation with physical impact testing.
• Experience with SPH-based bird modelling or equivalent high-fidelity impact modelling techniques.
• Experience with scripting/automation using Python, MATLAB or similar tools for pre/post-processing and engineering workflow automation.

Behavioural & Professional Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently investigate complex structural failure mechanisms.
• Good technical communication and engineering report-writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively with geographically distributed engineering and customer teams.
• Strong attention to modelling assumptions, numerical quality and engineering judgement.
• Ability to take ownership of analysis activities from model development through technical conclusion and certification support.

Key Deliverables

The successful candidate will be expected to deliver:

• High-quality Radioss explicit dynamic bird-strike FE models
• Verified and technically justified simulation methodologies
• Structural damage/failure assessments for CFRP and metallic airframe structures
• Impact response assessments for polycarbonate transparencies/windshields
• Correlation and validation studies against test data
• Engineering substantiation reports and certification evidence
• Design recommendations based on quantified structural response and failure mechanisms

Preferred Candidate Profile

A strong candidate would be an aerospace structural analyst with hands-on Radioss experience, capable of moving beyond simply running simulations to understanding the physics of bird impact, predicting structural damage/failure, validating the model and making an engineering judgement on structural integrity

Roles and Responsibilities

Perform engineering duties such as the planning of Thermodynamics, Aero Thermal analysis, Heat Transfer, Fluid Dynamics, Aero Mechanics, and Acoustics. Designs, develops, and tests a variety of power plants, aircrafts and parts. Establishes specifications, performs analysis, and conducts performance tests. Predicts new and derivative noise levels and designs elements of vehicles and systems to ensure compliance with noise regulations, specifications and guarantee requirements. Includes aerodynamics, stability and control, flutter and vibration, landing loads, aircraft or system structures, hydrodynamics, propulsion system, fuels and combustion, aero-acoustics, aero-mechanics, heat transfer and instrumentation